Veneer joiner



March 23 1926. 1,577,960

C. A. FORSBERG VENEER JOINER Filed Nov. 27, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 23 192s; 1,577,960

c. A. FORSBERG VENEER J0 I NEH Filed Nov.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fave/2X07? ance with the condition of each stack of- Patented Mar, 23, 1926,

'ATENT 0 F FMZE GEAR-LES A. FGRSBEEG, OF ROCTI'FGRD, ILLINOIS; 'TBUMAZJ JOHNSON, ADMINISTRA- TOR 0F SAID CHARLES A.- FOBSBER-G, DECEASED, SAID JOHNSON"ASSIGNOR TO LIERB SALES -& ENGINEERING COMPAIIY, 1136., GE LOOK'PORT, NEW YORK, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VENEER JOINEE;

Application filed November 27,1922.- Serial no. 603,400.

T 0 (dz 109710122 it may concern:

is it known that I, Gin-turns A. Fonsnnne, a citizen of the United States, residing at Itocl-zford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veneer Joiners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to machines for cutting and trimming the edges of wood veneer strips, so that they may be accurately joined by gluing. I Ieretofore, it has been the practice to out these joints either by means of a circular saw for roughing and a rotary cutter for finishing, or by a roughingand a finishing rotary cutter, the cutter blades being set at right angles to the plane of the wood. This means has been in.-

effectual in the cutting of perfect joints, be-

cause both the saw and the square set cutter blades have a tendency to rough the fibers of the wood. Ihe prior practice is also objectionable because of the means employed for clamping the stack of veneer while outtingthe joint, which means clamped only one edge of the veneer. Inasmuch as the veneer is frequently in a warped condition, the edge will be out true with respect to the clamped portion, but will be distorted after the entire piece has been clamped in the veneer press, causing an imperfect joint. The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved veneer joiner, which overcomes the objections referred to, and insures the cuttin of perfect joints regardless of the warped condition'of the veneer.

Another object is to provide a means for quickly and accurately regulating the depth of cut, with the view not only to obtaining a finish from end to end of the veneer, but

also to saving material. In other words, by taking a minimum cut regulated in accordveneer as distinguished from a fixed maximum depth of cut as was the prior prac tice, a considerable saving of veneer is effected.

Still another object is to providean inrproved cutting means which will not rough the fibers, but will insure a smooth finish under all conditions.

My invention also contemplates the provision of a machine of generally improved construction particularly adapted for: eX- peditiouslycutting veneer oints- 7 @ther ob ects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this art as the invention becomesbetter understood by reference to the following description whenco'nsidered in connection withthe' accompanying drawings, inwhich I Figure 1 1s a top view of aveneer oiner embody-ing imy invention Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthemachine;

. veneer strips united by binder strips preparatory toentering the veneer press;

Fig. 9 is a detail of the means for locking the'control lever in neutral position; and Fig; .10 is a section taken on the line 101O of Fig. 1.

The veneer strips 11- to be finished along each longitudinal edge 12, vary from one to twelve feet in length and three inches to'two feet in width In order to expedite the joining, a' stack of these strips Will be finished together.

The operator will place a stack-of veneer on a flat-top table designated generally by 13, which is're'latively long and narrow to accommodate-the long strips. This table is supported for reception on a suitable bed designated generally by 14. In view of the length of the table, I prefer to support it on inclined ways'15, in order to prevent binding andresultant friction. The tablebeing comparatively heavy, 110 retaininglgibs are necessary. Thebed'may be s'upportedat the proper elevation by suitablemeans, such as legs 16. V

Any suitable means may be employed for reciprocating the table on the bed, preferably ata slow speed forward during the cutting operation and at a quick return speed. The table starts from a loading position, feeds forward at the sloW speed and returns at the faster speed to the loading position. The means at present employed to this end includes an electric motor and a change speed mechanism supported on a bed extension 17. The electric motor 18 has an extended shaft 19 equipped with fixed spur gears 21 and 22 which mesh respectively with gears 23 and 24, fixed to friction cone clutch elements 25 and 26, loose on a shaft 27 which is suitably journaled on the bed and reaches longitudinally thereof. A. clutch element 28 splined on the shaft 27 is adapted to be shifted by means of a lever 29 into and out of engagement with either of the clutch elements 25 or 26 to thereby connect either of the gears 23 or 24 to the shaft 27. A reversing gear 20 is interposed between the gears 21 and 23 for reversing the direction of the latter gear with respect to the gear 24. Said shaft propels the table through the agency of a bevel pinion 31, which meshes with a bevel gear 32 journaled on the bed and fixed to a spur pinion 33 which meshes with a spur gear 34 in turn meshing with a rack 35 on the table. From the foregoing, it will be manifest that when the clutch elements 25 and 28 are connected as shown in the drawings, the table will be propelled forwardly at the slow speed, nd that upon engaging the opposite clutch elements the table willbe propelled in the reverse direction at a faster speed.

Any suitable means may be employed for controlling the driving mechanism, and at present I employ a lever 36 pivoted at 37 on the front'wall of the bed and connected by a rod 38 to the friction clutch lever 29. A spring-pressed finger 39 is adapted to enter a notch 41 in the lower end of the lever 36 for holding it in neutral position. Dogs 42 and 43 adjustable in a T-slot 44 on the table, are adapted to respectively actuate the lever 36 for disengaging the frictionv clutch and moving said lever to the neutral position mentioned.

The stack of veneer will be held on the table by a clamp designated generally by 45. This clamp reaching substantially the full length of the table and guided at its ends between upright members 46 fixed to the bed, has a flat imperforate clamping face 47 and a series of longitudinally spaced clamping fingers 48. The clamping part 47 is disposed at the rear edge of the table so as to clamp the veneer close to the edge to be cut. The veneer will, in fact, be clamped throughout its entire width by the clamp parts 47 and 48, and consequently will be held in a flat condition throughout. The openings afforded by the clamping fingers permit the operator to quickly and easily position and adjust the veneer'beneath the clamp, as is required in connection with a guide gage which will be presently described. Compression springs 49 normally hold the clamp in an elevated position and cams 51 pivotally supported upon and between the upright members 46 and bearing against the top surface 52 on the clamp, are adapted to be oscillated for lowering the clamp, by operation of a rod 53 which connects the upstanding cam arms 54. By reason of the gradual pitch of these cams, a powerful clamping pressure may be applied. This pressure will be equally imposed throughout the length of the stack of veneer, it being noted that the clamp is reinforced with double vertical ribs so as to prevent flexing under the heaviest strains.

A suitable gage is provided for aligning the stack of veneer on the table and also for determining the depth of the cut. This gage 55 located at the loading end of the machine, has an elongated stop surface 56 parallel with the plane of travel of the table and adjustable transversely of said plane to permit setting the stack for 'a deeper or shallow cut, as the case may require. This gage guide has a central portion 57 supported on horizontal ways 58 carried by the bed, permitting the desired movement of said stop with respect to the table. Means is provided for adjusting the position of said stop from the front of the machine, comprising a hand wheel 59 fixed to a nut 61 threaded on a screw 62 which extends rearwardly through the machine and is connected to lever 63 pivoted at 64 on the bed, and pivotally connected at 65 to the gage guide. The nut 61 being held against axial movement on the bed, will when moved rotatably by operation of the wheel 59, move the screw rod 62 forwardly and backwardly as the case may be, for reversely moving the gage guide. lVhen said gage guide is moved forwardly until the upper end of the lever 63 strikes the fixed Wall 66, the veneer when set against the face of said gage guide and clamped on the table, will be cut by the cutters (which will be presently described), a minimum depth of one-sixteenth of an inch. For each complete revolution of the wheel 59 in the opposite direction, the gage guide surface 56 will be moved back'one-fourth of an inch, thereby increasing the depth of the out that amount. It follows that by this adjusting means the operator may quickly set the gage guide surface to any depth re quired without reference to scales, graduations, etc., simply by moving said gagemember forward to the stop, giving amaximum cut of one sixteenth of an inch, and then backward by rotative movement of said hand wheel 59 in the opposite direction, a quarter turn for each sixteenth of an inch depth of cut.

A pair of rotary cutters are employed for trimming or finishing the rear edge of the stack as the latter is fed past them by travel of the table to the left, viewing Figs. 1 and 6. These cutters designated generally by 67 and 68, are each fixed to the shaft of an electrio motor 69 on a vertical axis, the motors being positioned closetogetherand mounted on the rear wall of the bed. It will be noted that the blades 7-1 are set at an angle, preferably about 30 degrees, and that the cutters revolve in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 6, consequently moving in the same direction with the veneer during the cutting. The cutter 68 performs the roughing out, removing the greatest body of stock and the cutter 67 finishes the cut and leaves a smooth surface. By revolving the cutters so that they cut with the travel of the wood and in an inclined path, the fibers of the wood will be the least disturbed, with the result that a very fine finish will be obtained, whereas under the prior practice the fibres were gen erally roughed and disturbed, because of the cutting means employed. A suitable suction hood 70 about the cutters, carries the chips away.

The operation is as follows: The dog 42 will be set to stop the table at the right hand end of the bed in such position that the strips of veneer may be inserted beneath the clamp, against the gage guide surface 56, and clear of the cutters. The gage guide will be set to regulate the depth of cut and the stack of veneer will be moved against said guide and clamped by moving the bar 53 to the left. It will be noted that in setting the veneer beneath the clamp the fingers 4L8 permit the operator to reach there-beneath and properly adjust the veneer strips, so that all will be set against the guide. The veneer being properly clamped on the table, the operator will throw the lever 36 to the right as shown in Fig. 2, thereby engaging the feed speed and causing the table to be propelled to the left, as described above. Usually the cut is completed in one operation, but if the edge of the veneer is unusually irregular, one or more cuts may be required. At the end of the cutting stroke, the dog 43 throws the lever 36 to neutral, thus stopping the table. This action results from the fact that the frictional resistance between the table and bed is sufficient to cause the table to come to a stop almost immediately after the clutch elements and 28 have been disconnected. Enough play is provided for the shiftable element 28 to prevent it engaging the opposite clutch element 26 before the table comes to a stop. The operator then throws said lever to the left, which reverses the table at the rapid speed. The table will be stopped at the starting position by the action of the dog 42 for the same reason as ex plained above with reference to action of the dog 43. At this position or at the finish of the cutting operation, he veneer may be removed and reversed on the table for cutting the opposite edge. The operation will be repeated and the veneer when finished will be replaced by another stack.

The pieces of veneer will be united by adhesive binder strips 72, a sui'iicient number of veneer pieces being joined together in this way to cover a desk or table top, or any other object; This binding is usually done by a saecial-purpose machine, which crowds the adjoining veneer pieces together, making a tight joint, this being done with the veneer unclamped except in the immediate vicinity of the joint at the application of the binder. After this, one or more plies of the veneer will be glued to a these units being piled one above another and clamped together in a veneer press. It will thus be seen that in the final application of the veneer, it is compressed and in the same condition as when clamped on the joiner, with the result that the joints will not pull apart as frequently is the case when the joint has been cut on a machine in which the clamp engages only a portion of the veneer during the joint-cutting operation. It will be manifest, therefore, that the matter of clamping and holding the veneer in flat condition throughout substantially its entire area while being cut, is an important factor in producing perfect veneer joints. Likewise, it is important that the edges to be joined shall be smooth and not roughed, as the roughing has a tendency to impair the strength of the cut at the joint, and likewise to magnify the presence of the joint. Another advantage of the present machine is that the operator can by positioning the veneer against the gage guide, determine from the irregularity of the edge, the depth of out to be made, and can thereupon quickly and accurately set the gage guide to produce the desired out without waste. In this way, a considerable saving in material may be effected.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the objects prefaced above, and while I have illustrated a single working embodiment, it should be understood that ehanges might be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as exbody of inferior stock,

pressed in the appended claims; in which-.

I claim:

1. In a veneer joiner, the combination of a bed, a table reciprocable thereon, means for holding a stack of veneer on the table, means for finishing one edge of the veneer, a gage guide for aligning the veneer with respect to said cutting means and for limiting the depth of cut, a lever connected with said guide for adjusting the same to vary the depth of cut. a rod connected with said lever and extending forwardly through said bed, and a hand-operable member at the front of the bed connected With said rod for moving the same axially for making said adjustment.

2. In a veneer joiner, a bed a table reciprocable thereon and adapted to carry a stack of veneer, means for finishing a longitudinal edge of the veneer, and a clamp for clamping the veneer onto the table, aid clamp extending substantially co-extensive with the length of the table and supported at its ends thereon With capacity for vertical movement, said clamp having a flat substantially imperforate clamping surface for holding the veneer in juxtaposition to the edge to be finished including longitudinally spaced clamping fingers at its opposite side, where by to clamp the veneer throughout its area in a substantially fiat condition and to permit access between the fingersfor adjust ment of the stack before clamping. v

3. In a veneer joiner, a reciprocable carriage, cutting means and means for clamping a stack of veneer on the carriage in posi' tion to be finished along one longitudinal edge by said cutting means, including a clamp for holding the veneer in substantially flat condition throughout its entire area including narrow fingers substantially spaced apart along one edge permitting access to the stack for adjustment thereof before clamping.

CHARLES A. F ORSBERG. 

